By Abdullahi Mohammed, Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Monday directed that an Administrative Committee headed by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction should be set up immediately to look at all the issues surrounding the arrest, detention, treatment and release of the minors charged to court by the police over the #Endbadgovernance protest.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mr Mohammed Idris said this while briefing State House correspondents after a meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He said the committee would investigate all the law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and the prosecution of the minors.
“The President has directed that a committee will be set up immediately to be headed by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
“It is actually an Administrative Committee to look at all issues surrounding the arrest, detention, the treatment and finally the release of these young minors.
“The President has also directed that all the law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and the legal processes will be investigated, and if there are any infractions, found to have been committed by any official of government, be him a law enforcement agency, or whoever that person may be, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against him or her,” he said.
He said the president also directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Lateef Fagbemi to ensure the immediate release of all the minors.
The minister said the president also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to ensure the reunion of the minors with their families wherever they are in the country.
“All of you are aware that in the last couple of days, there have been some very deep inquiries and commentaries about the fate or the situation regarding the minors that you saw towards the end of last week, the ones that have been arrested by the Nigerian police and were undergoing some legal processes. You also saw what happened in the courtroom.
“And as a result of that, Mr President, because of his very deep commitment to democracy and the rule of law, and without prejudice also to whatever legal processes on on hand, and on the other hand, on the human part of it, has directed that some announcements be made.
“I recall that I had short briefing with Mr President early this evening, and he has directed the immediate release of all the minors that have been arrested by the Nigerian police, without prejudice to whatever legal processes. He has directed that all of them be released immediately.
“The President has also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to immediately see to the welfare of those minors, and also take part to ensure that they is smooth reunion with their parents or guardians wherever they are in the country,” he said.